EAGER bidding from the first lot to the last ensured that Lawrences Auctioneers recorded a host of high prices in their auction of jewellery and watches on Thursday, July 7.

A collection of pocket watches realised £16,775, with the top price being paid for an 18ct gold half hunting cased watch by Daniel Desbois from 1908, that made £1,750 (lot 1141).

A silver cased pocket chronometer by Thomas Earnshaw, fitted with the Earnshaw Spring Detent escapement, dated from circa 1800 and doubled hopes of £5,000 to tick up a winning bid of £11,250 (lot 1159).

Two Rolex wristwatches showed their dependable popularity - a steel Date-Just Turnograph Automatic Chronometer making £5,250 (lot 1184) and an Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller making £7,500 (lot 1185).

Precious stones commanded consistently good prices: an emerald five stone ring soared to 10 times its estimate and made £4,250 (lot 1267); a Georgian gold and gem set cluster ring more than doubled hopes of £1,500 to make £3,500 (lot 1275); an Art Deco diamond bracelet also made £3,500 (lot 1367); a diamond bow brooch made £5,500 (lot 1393); an Edwardian emerald and diamond ring made £7,500 (lot 1387); and a Georgian diamond flower-head brooch with a central diamond measuring just under 9mm made £11,875 (lot 1395).

A long necklace or sautoir of seed pearls and diamonds made £6,000 against an estimate of £2,000-3,000 (lot 1364).

A historical revival pearl and portrait miniature necklace set with three Royal portraits and in a fitted case by D. S. Lavender of London made £8,125 (lot 1397), but the sale’s top price was paid for a Victorian diamond brooch in the form of a bat, set with old-cut and rose-cut diamonds. Just 6cm wide, it attracted fierce online bidding and no fewer than a dozen telephone bidders. In the bright sunshine of a perfect summer day, this bejewelled creature of the night flew to a remarkable £20,000 (lot 1362).